The next morning, sunlight filtered through the cracks in the window, casting its glow into Haruki's bedroom. For once, he had slept in—something rare for him. Normally, he would've been up early, urging the girls to begin their training.
The room still carried a faint air of indulgence. On the large, luxurious bed, a man and a woman lay wrapped in each other's arms. Judging by their bare limbs, the crumpled sheets, and the scattered clothes strewn across the floor, it was clear what had transpired the night before.
"Ugh…"
Haruki slowly opened his hazy eyes, lifting a hand to shield them from the harsh sunlight streaming in—only to realize his arm was pinned beneath Gin's head.
Turning to glance at her, he noticed her eyelashes tremble slightly. So, she'd been awake for a while—just pretending to sleep out of embarrassment.
Honestly, who would've ever thought that the usually calm and reserved Gin would pull something so bold?
Then again, while her actions had been surprising, they weren't entirely out of character.
For one, it was no secret that Gin had long harbored feelings for Haruki. But he had never given her a clear answer, and as time passed, that uncertainty had started to weigh on her. Though the girls were powerful, they were still deeply influenced by the Empire's traditions. Things like girls marrying at fourteen or fifteen were considered normal. So when Haruki finally confessed to her yesterday, it was only natural that Gin was overjoyed.
Secondly, watching the Security Minister and Tina's heartless betrayal in their final moments had deeply shaken her. Compared to that, Haruki seemed like a man worth holding onto with everything she had.
And most importantly—she had been drinking. A lot. With alcohol fueling her courage and blunting her usual composure, Gin had ended up throwing on that daring outfit and sneaking into Haruki's room to seduce him.
"Little girl, if you're awake, just get up. No need to keep pretending."
Haruki gently ran his fingers through Gin's silky silver hair, his tone indulgent and affectionate. He was clearly doting on her now.
"Brother… can you step out for a bit first?"
Realizing he had seen through her act, Gin blushed even deeper with embarrassment.
The night before, emboldened by the wine, she'd snuck into his room. But waking up this morning in his arms, hands still wrapped around him, their clothes tangled together on the floor—it wasn't like she could sneak out unnoticed. With no other option, she'd hoped to stall by pretending to be asleep until he left.
"What haven't I seen at this point? There's nothing left to be shy about. Come on, I'll help you get dressed."
Haruki couldn't resist teasing her a little. After all, the contrast between her usual icy demeanor and this bashful side was just too much for any man to handle.
Without waiting for her reply, he tossed off the blanket and got out of bed. After dressing himself, he brought Gin's clothes over to her side.
Her completely bare body looked as though it had been sculpted from white jade, so flawless it made Haruki nearly lose control again. But he held himself back, knowing her body had already endured enough.
Last night had been a first for both of them. Alone, caught in the moment, it was inevitable that things had gotten a little intense. Haruki was fine—his True Ancestor body could go all night without breaking a sweat. But Gin, despite her strength, was still human, and her physical limits had been pushed hard.
Blushing furiously, Gin allowed Haruki to help her dress. Then, limping slightly, she leaned on him as they walked out of the room together.
By the time they arrived in the dining hall, the others were already seated. Under everyone's teasing and envious gazes, Haruki helped the flushed Gin into her seat before taking his own.
"What's going on? Didn't anyone sleep well last night? You all look exhausted."
Haruki looked around at the girls' faces, noting the dark circles under their eyes with some confusion.
It made sense for Gin to be tired—after what they'd done all night, that was expected. But why did the others look so worn out too?
"Hmph! With someone's room making that much noise all night, how could we possibly sleep?"
Nina huffed, her voice dripping with sour jealousy.
Gin's face, already red, turned bright crimson. She nearly ducked under the table. Sneaking into Haruki's room had already been impulsive enough—she hadn't expected everyone to have heard it. There was no way she could keep up her usual cool facade after this.
"Ahem."
Hearing Nina's remark, Haruki nearly spit out the mouthful of milk he'd just taken. He broke into a fit of coughing, his face flushed with embarrassment. After all, he had just confessed his feelings—and immediately ended up sleeping with her. That kind of timing could easily make him look like he was just lust-driven.
In truth, the villa's soundproofing was more than adequate. The problem was that the girls weren't ordinary people—their hearing was exceptional. And since they had all chosen rooms near Haruki's when the house was first arranged, everything that happened between him and Gin last night had been heard loud and clear.
Just then, a maid hurried into the room. Haruki, desperate for a way to steer the conversation away from that topic, turned to her and asked, "What is it? Something urgent?"
Normally, during meals, maids weren't allowed to enter the dining area unless it was an emergency.
"Young Master, ladies, Great General Budo is here. He's waiting outside," the maid reported.
"Take him to the living room and tell him I'll be there shortly," Haruki instructed.
"Yes, right away."
The maid answered briskly. Over the years, no matter who visited the estate, Haruki always handled things the same way—even when it was the Prime Minister. Everyone treated Haruki with utmost respect, which only fueled the maids' curiosity and admiration for him. Some visitors were so influential that even the young Emperor had to tread carefully, yet Haruki always acted indifferent—and no one ever dared question him.
After hearing that Haruki had publicly executed the Imperial Capital's Security Minister and his family just yesterday, the maids had been left in awe. To them, the Security Minister was a high-ranking imperial official.
"Alright, let's finish breakfast. Once we're done, we'll go meet with Budo."
Since Gin had just lost her virginity, Haruki didn't want her to feel neglected. Even if she didn't say anything, he knew—this was the kind of moment where a woman wanted her man to be close by.
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
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